At the beginning of each new year, approximately 50% of the population makes resolutions. Among the top resolutions each year are weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking, better money management, and debt reduction (Journal of Clinical Psychology). However, only 8% of those people that make a resolution, keep that commitment to themselves (Forbes.com).

If you are pretty far underwater, saying you want to get out of debt and manage your money better is a really big resolutions. You may have better luck if you approach your New Year’s resolutions thinking about patching small holes in your big picture.

Here are some strategies for thinking about some common resolutions made each year:

If Your Resolution is About More Time

Many of us wish we had more time. Time for our family. Time to give back. Time to do nothing. If your resolution is more time, here are some factors you may want to keep in mind.

Baby Steps. If you want to make more time to volunteer, don’t sign-up for a 20-hour-a-week opportunity. Choose one thing you’d like to try once. And celebrate that step!

If Your Resolution Has To Do With Money

We already know “money management” is one of the top resolutions each year. But where do you even starter?

Write it down. Take out a pen and choose one thing you are going to focus on for the next 90 days. It might be to put $10 into savings each week or deciding to walk for 10 minutes twice each day. Write it down and post it on your refrigerator.

If Your Resolution Has To Do With Wellness

Maybe you’d like to lose 10 pounds and start exercising every day; to go to church more and wake up every morning grateful; and to feel at peace each night about the decisions you are making with our money. Our physical, spiritual, and financial wellness all work together to make us feel balanced… or out of balance.

Get Support. Whether it’s your spouse, a friend, or your MOPS group, telling others about your goals is a proven strategy to achieving them. Let them know you’d like to be held accountable.

Another way to make your commitment known is to head over to brightpeakfinancial.com/resolve to write down your commitment. We’ll send you weekly updates for your first 6 weeks to help you stay on track by getting past the first big hurdles.

If you submit a commitment, we’ll also send you a free e-book: “Resolve: A guide to keeping your commitments to yourself.”

Share your thoughts

I've made two resolutions this year. One is to disconnect from my cell phone, so I can be more connected with my family. The second is to make it to the gym almost everyday. It should be doable with all my kids in school, right?!? ;)

Posted on Tuesday, January 21 at 8:47 pm by Jennifer

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You CAN do it! :) I'm learning that our little mobile devices are taking up LOTS of our time. And while I do leave mine on ALL the time, I've tried to be more aware of my use of it so that I don't let it interfere with FAMILY time. So....no phone at the dinner table....etc.

Posted on Wednesday, January 22 at 2:53 am by Teresa

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Resolution - go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and have a few minutes of quiet before the kiddo wakes up - otherwise I'm having "quiet" time with God and the "Cat in the Hat" on PBS kids - not exactly quiet. It works, but it's so much better to have that time before he's up. How am I doing on this resolution? Well - some days good and some days not.... just keep swimming, right?

Posted on Tuesday, January 21 at 6:10 pm by Rachel

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I've found myself compelled (by God? - probably) to get up earlier and spend time with Jesus too. It is difficult for me, but I find the more consistent I am with a reasonable bed time, the easier I find it to haul myself out of bed in the morning. Don't give up!

Posted on Tuesday, February 4 at 1:36 pm by Anna

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I, too, have been trying to get up before my children. When I have quiet time and time to prepare for the day, everything seems to go much more smoothly! I just find it difficult to go to bed as early as I should to do this, because the evening is my time to talk with my husband and the children are getting later bedtimes as they get older. But, we are a work in progress, and I will just keep trying because I know how good it feels when the day goes well.

Posted on Friday, January 24 at 8:10 am by Sara

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Ah, yes. Quiet time....people think I'm crazy for getting up between 4 and 4:30 am, but I do it purely for the quietness of the house! It helps that I'm more of a morning person anyway. I think I would struggle more if I were a night owl. ;)

Posted on Wednesday, January 22 at 2:58 am by Teresa

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My goals for this year surround through of taking care of myself. My kids are 4&6 and I feel like I can finally take them somewhere (school, mainly) and find my passion outside the house again. For years I've put my own needs second, third and fourth because I was in the years of giving myself to the kids and husband. I'm no longer who I was before kids.

Posted on Tuesday, January 21 at 12:48 pm by Denise

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Completely normal to put needs of others first in those early years, but it sounds like it's now time to cultivate the who you are growing into. :) There is another blog post on here called Swiss Cheese moms, that reads those it touches upon exactly what you are experiencing. Check it out here: http://www.mops.org/swiss-cheese-moms I'm not the same person I was before kids, but hopefully I'm a better person as I have so much more experiences than before! My kids are in the same age range as yours and I'm excited that I can now get more involved in volunteering and doing things for my church as well as for myself. I tend to think of it as continually finding the rhythm of the mothering stage we are in at the moment. Like the tide, it continually changes...just keep riding the waves. :)

Posted on Wednesday, January 22 at 4:08 am by Teresa

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Goals for this year revolve around discipline for me. Specifically being more disciplined in what I eat and keeping my house clean. Measurable goals for me include joining and tracking what I eat with Weight Watchers and making sure dishes are done before going to bed.

Posted on Wednesday, January 15 at 1:03 pm by Rachel

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I haven't made resolutions, but after reading your comment to wash dishes before going to bed....well, I'm inspired to do that. I'm usually too tired to do them and leave them for the morning...or sometimes the next night. Do you work outside the home? Would you want to be buddies to helping each other keep this resolution?